South Riverkeeper

Jesse Iliff started as the is South RIVERKEEPER® in 2015 for the South River Federation. Jesse Iliff, an attorney, attended University of Maryland, Carey School of Law, with a concentration in environmental law. While in law school, Jesse earned a Public Service Award for designing a pro bono project for environmental law students to assist in litigation regarding unsound wastewater treatment and retention practices by surface mining companies in West Virginia. Jesse also served as co-executive of the Maryland Environmental Law Society, designing and implementing conservation and fundraising programs for the student organization. In addition, Jesse completed an Asper Fellowship with the Anne Arundel County Office of Law's natural resources division, and interned with the Office of the Attorney General's Environmental Crimes Unit. Before joining the South River Federation, Mr. Iliff provided pro bono counsel and representation to several community groups and non-profit organizations through the Chesapeake Legal Alliance. In his spare time Jesse enjoys softball, boating, hiking and cross country skiing with his wife Abbey and their son Baxter.

Since 2007, the Federation has compiled an annual South River Scorecard. Each year, the Scorecard presents data on 10 key indicators of River health, such as: water clarity, dissolved oxygen, underwater grasses, nutrients, and the abundance of aquatic life. Much of the data in the Scorecard has been collected by the South Riverkeeper, but the report also utilizes data from a variety of respected sources such as the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and the Virginia Institute of Marine Sciences.

The Federation prides itself on science-based restoration. To enhance our understanding of the river, the South RIVERKEEPER® collects a battery of water quality data from 21 different sites around the River on a weekly basis. The data collected includes: temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen by depth, salinity, water clarity, and nutrients. In addition, we have a corps of Riverwatchers, trained volunteers who collect regular data on non-tidal sections of the River and report it back to the RIVERKEEPER®.

The South River Federation is a participant in Operation Clearwater, a bacteria testing program for community waterfront recreational areas on the South River that runs from May through Labor Day. The program provides waterfront communities on the South River with regular updates of the microbial water quality at their waterfront recreational areas.

The South RIVERKEEPER® participates in the The Swim Guide Mobile App, an online tool and smartphone app to display local bacteria monitoring data including the South River. The Swim Guide makes it easy to explore and enjoy the best beaches in the area.